Chandler Township FarmingCharlevoix County MI

Please do not copy the photos on this site, many of which have been submitted by private individuals... just come back and visit the site often to view the photos.

When the idea of FARMING comes to mind, usually the foremost thought is that of "the activity or business of growing crops and raising livestock"... a traditional farm setting. FARMING, however, also exists "whenever something is produced or processed"; like Chandler Township's maple syrup is produced by Dennis & Micki Howard, or honey was harvested by beekeeper Wiley Latshaw. So, whatever the reason, and the season, for the FARM, the FARM must have A Dedicated FARMER. Commentator Paul Harvey told the demands of orchestrating a FARM, when he narrated his poem of "So, God Made A Farmer".

A friend of mine who is a farmer, with her husband, in Emmet County, wrote to me of her view about farming: "I do believe farmers raise crops, animals and most often are proudest of their families they raise. Farming is not for people who want to make a living. Farming is for people who want a way of life. Our children need to be the most important thing in our lives as they will be the future."

On 12 January 1943 Marion Mackie Wood wrote in her diary: “He [Marion's husband Howard] is going to Connie’s to a meeting, ‘A Farmer’s Mobilization Day’ to find out how to raise food next season for all the whole world & at the same time on short rations, short tools, no help & terrible taxes. No job at all for a man sitting at a desk figuring with a pencil.”

In the early years of the 1900s, the Howard brothers, Noah, Albert, Steve, and Martin were working in the lumbering industry, gathering bungwood, in Chandler Township's neighboring Hudson Township out of what they called the Howard Camp. Later, Noah worked for Boyne City's White Brothers, by cutting the big logs. Eventually, as the lumbering era did die down, Noah, Albert and Martin all purchased land in Chandler Township and farmed. Steve purchased a farm on Thumb Lake Road, staying in Hudson Township, where he farmed for several years before moving to Midland MI.Noah and Albert lived on their Chandler Township farms until they died. Martin moved to Boyne City (where he died), and left the farming to his son Roscoe Howard Sr. The cut-over lands from lumbering, left fields for farming... "Fields of Dreams". ~ Karla Howard Buckmaster

Probably from the Early 1900s Somewhere in or near the Chandler Township Area...

20 February 1913 ~ The Petoskey Record

The Petoskey Record newspaper on page 4 in issue 21 August 1913 (shown below) the idea of "Name Your Farm" was suggested for Chandler Township's Charlevoix County located next to Petoskey's Emmet County.

21 August 1913 ~ The Petoskey Record Page 4

In Chandler Township properties have been named, but I'm not certain the farms are necessarily actually registered with the Charlevoix County Clerk.

Chandler Township Farms and Properties Associated Names are:

Bellewood FarmChandler ClubHoward Family FarmSiegrist Greenhouse

12 March 1925 ~ The Levering Local

12 March 1925 ~ The Levering Local

~ Auction Sales~

Dewey "Dude" Bush of Chandler Hill connections dealt in farm equipment and farm auctions. His location was near the Petoskey High School Stadium at Curtis Field which had been located near the corner of Howard and Bear River roads (2018), but at that time (1947) Bear River Road was OLD US-131 as stated in the advertisement below.

24 April 1947 ~ Northern Michigan Review

Bud Gallop At The Auction

The newspaper article below reported the importance of testing cattle for Bang's Disease... especially, immediately prior to the start of auction negotiations.

7 October 1954 Otsego County Herald-Times Gaylord newspaper

The farmers of Chandler Township depended on the auction sales for both buying, and selling, of their livestock. This newspaper photo on the above left shows Chandler Township resident William "Bud" Gallop with a bull he had purchased, possibly at the Wolverine MI livestock auction. The newspaper clipping was preserved in the diary of Marion Mackie Wood on her page for 29 October 1951. Bud had the longest barn on top of Chandler Hill at 100 feet long. He usually owned white faced hereford cattle. Bud, as well as other neighbors, would often transport animals for Marion Wood and her husband Howard as they did not have equipment for the transporting of their animals.Bud also performed other farm chores for his neighbors. Marion wrote in her April 10, 1947 diary: “We hope to have Bud move our manure this summer or spring. There’s 3 years of it. He has his new loader now.”

Bud was still helping Howard and Marion Mackie Wood in July 30, 1951 as Marion wrote in her diary: "I did chores last nite, as Papa was in the field helping Bud- Bud came about 5 P.M. & baled like mad & has about 40 more to do this morn & Cub & Marion are to haul- & then Howard will stop worrying along that line... Bud came & finished the baling & then Cub came & Marion drove tractor until the 190 bales were in- 4 loads- Gosh we'll have a bill to Bud- but anyway- the baling’s in @ 30 bales a ton...started to sprinkle as they finished- & Marion tore home to take in her laundry." Then July 31, 1951: "Howard paid Bud $26.00 for the baling... Howard spends most of the day in the barn looking at the hay. They put 30 some bales in the horse stalls."

On 5 January 1949 Marion made note in her diary about their hay in the barn: "Howard says he will finish the baled hay in the long mow tomorrow. Last of the 1/2 ton bought from Cub [Karl Howard] last Spring."

On 7 February 1949 Marion wrote in her diary: "Bud is taking hogs to the sale this day at Wolverine. I guess Cleyo [Penfold] is trucking them."Marion Mackie Wood was a neighbor also to Martin Howard, and Marion had made note in one of her diaries about: "Martin sold cows at the Wolverine Michigan Sale and once received a bogus check from a buyer of his cattle. That was a devastating happening for Martin and his family." Martin lived in the house that eventually became his son Roscoe's farm house. ~Karla Howard Buckmaster

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This article about the "Biggest Beef Sale In History" set for October 1954, continues on to the next two columns to the right.Many Chandler Township farmers were listed as "Consignors" in this blockbuster sale.

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Ash Stewart bought a Hereford bull.

14 August 1947 ~ Otsego County Herald Times

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15 October 1953 ~ Otsego County Herald Times

I can remember going to this Gaylord auction site a couple of times when I was a little girl. I sat about up on the stands from where this photo left was taken. It seems my dad had us sit up high in case an animal might get rambunctious and jump into the stands. I did see a bull do that one of the times I was there. William "Bud" Gallop is probably in the photo somewhere since his name is mentioned in the article as selling some of his cattle.~ Karla Howard Buckmaster

In the 1900s Chandler Township Farmers bought many of their farming supplies from F.O. Barden & Sons in Boyne City MI, or from Frank Gruler & Sons in Petoskey MI (photos below).Both stores have been so successful through the years that they are both still in business in 2014.

1890 ~ LOCATION of Gruler Store in Petoskey

The 1901 Petoskey newspaper The Independent Democrat, article below, announced the arrival of Frank Gruler and family to the city of Petoskey.

26 April 1901 ~ The Independent Democrat

Gruler's Feed Store Beside The Railroad Tracks In Petoskey

Frank Gruler & Sons Feed Seed and Builders Supplies for The Farmer at Heart. Gruler's original store building burned in the 1950's, and now is located on Fulton Street in Petoskey MI. Submitted from the Photo Album of Arthur Stevens... Arthur was married to Louise Gruler, daughter of Frank.

10 April 1901 ~ The Petoskey Record

Photos Above and Below: Frank Gruler & Sons store... same building in both photos, but the photo below shows the buildings beside "Grulers" on Michigan Street in Petoskey MI. The railroad tracks ran right beside the feed/seed store for easy deliveries.

By checking the 1919 Sanborn Maps, this feed/seed store location was owned by D.C. Osborne Feed Mill and Seed Warehouse [See article at left]. The building on the corner of Michigan and Petoskey Streets was labeled for "Storage and Baled Hay". The building with the steeple across Petoskey Street on the corner was labeled as 7th Day Adventist Church. Closer to this side of the railroad tracks, but not in either photo, was a long narrow building which sat directly by the tracks, labeled as "Cement and Flour Warehouse" with a small office at the front edge of Michigan Street. Across from that small office, across four sets of railroad tracks, that long location in 2014 has a long building, perhaps the original building of the freight depot, which has housed The Print Shop for many years.

By checking the 1929 Sanborn Maps, this feed/seed store was owned by Frank Gruler & Sons as in the sign in the photos above and below. By then, the building on the corner was labeled as a garage. The church building was still labeled as the 7th Day Adventist Church, and the building still exists in 2014, but is used for various offices. Harry Parker of Parker Motor Freight had the garage on that corner of Petoskey and Michigan Streets. Then, Matt Doyle (Petoskey Standard Oil) and Red Seldon became friends and went into business together in that location. Through a back alley was the Petoskey Paint and Body Shop labeled on the 1929 Sanborn Maps as "Auto Paints".

Evidently, for some reason, the Sanborn Maps for this area in 1929, had two versions of their August 1929 map of this same area. In one version the corner was labeled as "Garage", and in the other version, the same corner was labeled as "Steam Laundry". So, perhaps during 1929 was the very year when the corner location of the garage became Hookers Laundry, where the location in 2014 is still being used as a dry cleaning business. The Melvin Hooker Family (with Sons Burton and Lavern) had had their home behind the laundry... a home that was torn down many years ago.

Since 1929, the big Gruler store and warehouse burned, in the summer of 1959. The Gruler's Farm Supply store/warehouse was then built on 125 Fulton Street just a few streets away, where it still does a brisk business in 2014. After the fire, the location was used as a small branch of the Chase Bank (other bank names previously) which just closed in 2013.

Frank Gruler & Sons was an important business source for Chandler Township farmers, as well as farmers all around the area.

24 May 1901 ~ The Independent Democrat

29 May 1901 ~ The Petoskey Record

21 September 1910 ~ The Petoskey Record

Frank Gruler & Sons Feed Seed and Builders Supplies for The Farmer at Heart. Gruler's original store building burned in the 1950's, and now is located on Fulton Street in Petoskey MI. Submitted from the Photo Album of Arthur Stevens

Punky Seldon with her parents and siblings, lived around the corner from Gruler's Feed Store. Punky remembers in 2014: "Gruler's 'long narrow building' was attached overhead by a bridge of some sort. One could drive under it. In 1945 a car came peeling out of there in the dark with no headlights and practically ran us down. My sister was in a baby sleigh, with wheels that kicked out when needed, and I was walking next to my mom and dad. We were headed out for a night of Christmas Shopping in downtown Petoskey. My dad was furious and ran after the car throwing one of his rubbers after it." AND "The entrance (pictured on the left in the photo above) with the hand railing of the Gruler building next to the tracks was where the general public walked in to purchase dog food and such and to pay their bills... It [the car in front of Gruler's in the photo above] could have very well been our family car in front (1940 or 1941 Ford 4 door Sedan)." AND "As far as Red Seldon's friends connected to the time and place. They were Harry Parker, Matt Doyle, and A. T. Washburne (A.T.'s the attorney and neighbor who lived on Emmet and Michigan). The four of them were close back in those days. My dad even inherited Harry's 1940 Ford Businessman's Coupe after Harry got in an accident that nearly killed him. Afterward I was born. A few more years, later, I inherited John Parker's highchair (Harry Parker’s son). After that I got his high metal kitchen stool and more. Those items were in turn passed down to my three siblings. It wasn’t like today. Everything was kept and passed down. The Parker’s Ford Coupe and the high stool stayed in the family until recently. Don’t know what happened to the crib, but my siblings used it and their kids too. My daughter now has my first trike from Edmund Dean’s Firestone store on Mitchell and Petoskey Street. It was a three wheel and chain driven; like older people drive today. Matt Doyle and my dad owned Petoskey Paint and Body Shop located back of Hooker's. They were partners. A few years later, my dad bought out Matt's interest by signing over his 1940 or 1941 Ford Sedan he had purchased from Edmund Dean at Northern Auto in the fall of 1940. Northern Auto was where the “big hole” is now across from 7-11."

The 8 July 1959 Petoskey News Review newspaper below reported the fire which destroyed Gruler's, but the firemen were able to save the nearby Hooker's Laundry, and the adjoining building, plus two freight cars and the Pennsylvania freight depot.

(The newspaper below may be enlarged by clicking the appropriate box toward the bottom.)

10 April 1901 ~ The Petoskey Record, tells of the building of the elevator...

Photo submitted by Al Gruler Jr.

8 July 1959 ~ Petoskey News Review

Photo submitted by Al Gruler Jr.

Photo submitted by Al Gruler Jr.

Photo submitted by Al Gruler Jr.

Photo submitted by Al Gruler Jr.

11 July 1959 ~ Petoskey News Review

13 July 1959 ~ Petoskey News Review

15 July 1959 ~ Petoskey News Review

16 July 1959 ~ Petoskey News Review

When Grulers rebuilt their store after the 1959 fire, they built at their present day Fulton Street location, not the Michigan St. site.

15 January 1960 ~ Petoskey News Review

Five Photos Below: 21 April 1960 ~ On Fulton Street After the Michigan Street Fire: Submitted by Al Gruler...The building does look very much like the plan in the article above... AND the building still looks much the same in 2018.

21 April 1960 ~ On Fulton Street After the Michigan Street Fire: Submitted by Al Gruler

21 April 1960 ~ On Fulton Street After the Michigan Street Fire: Submitted by Al Gruler

21 April 1960 ~ On Fulton Street After the Michigan Street Fire: Submitted by Al Gruler

21 April 1960 ~ On Fulton Street After the Michigan Street Fire: Submitted by Al Gruler

21 April 1960 ~ On Fulton Street After the Michigan Street Fire: Submitted by Al Gruler

11 June 1960 ~ Petoksey News Review

15 June 1960 ~ Petoksey News Review

Al Gruler of the obituary below, was not only a provider of "All Things a Farmer Might Need", in his Gruler's farm supply store,but he joined the Chandler Township Community by attending with this family, the township's Venison Suppers held annually in the early years.

2 December 2014 ~ Petoskey News Reveiw

~ Farming During The War Years ~

1 November 1942 MIDPACIFICAN (The Armed Forces' Newspaper In The Pacific Ocean Areas)

~ During The War Years ~Farming has always been a hard occupation, but it was especially tough during the War Years... as noted in the letter written above, which could have been written by any Chandler Township Charlevoix County father.

Chandler Township~ BarnsAnd Farmhouses~(And Sheds)

Barn ~ AtkinsCorner of Chandler Hill Road and Magee Road

Kathie Glazier Denise, daughter of Alva and Irene Glazier, thinks this property may have been owned by the railroad company, or some other company, before Frank Atkins owned it. Alva and Irene Glazier's descendants still own the farm in 2014. Fred Glazier thinks that at one time Frank Atkins' sister may have owned and built the house, and Frank owned the barn.

When Bud Gallop and his mother Connie Gallop owned this farm, the barn (in the photos below) they built was 100 feet long, and it was the longest barn ever built in Chandler Township.

Marion Mackie Wood, Chandler Township friend and neighbor to Connie and son Bud Gallop, wrote in her diary on 25 November 1951:

"Cub [Howard] had 23 of the rafters of his barn all made when I talked to M. [Cub's wife Marion Howard] last so he should have’em all done by now. Mr. Korthase is helping him. They are made in a half circle. They stake out the pattern on the ground & then bend inch boards inside it until they are built up with 5 layers- Connie & Bud [Gallop] think they’ll do theirs the same way- takes 32 sets for Cub’s [60 ft.] & 52 for Connie’s [100 ft.]." In the two photos above, the hand built rafters can be seen in the partially roofed barn.The photo below left shows Connie and Bud Gallop's long barn with the roof completed.

End view of the Gallop barn with Bud's Hereford cattle

The 100 feet long barn built by Connie Gallop and her son Bud Gallop...

By 2006 when the photo belowleft was taken, Gallop's original 100 feet long barn had been torn down, and was replaced by the red barn in the photo.

7 October 2006

Sadly, the Gallop home which had stood for many, many years was destroyed in a late night fire. Dennis and Kathleen Hass had remodeled the home as seen in the two photos above, in recent years, and were owners of the home when it burned.

November 2013 ~ Shortly after the Gallop/Hass Farmhouse Fire

22 November 2013 ~ Petoskey News Reveiw

8 February 2014 ~ Remnants from the Gallop/Hass house fire barely show through the piles of snow

12 August 2018 ~ Gallop/Haas Farm Home Replaced

17 May 1979 ~ Petoskey News Review article continued below...

17 May 1979 ~ Petoskey News Review article continued from above...

Barns ~ Glenn & Nancy Hellman HindbaughOn Chandler Hill Road

2006

2006 ~ Bee Crossing

2006

After about 40 years, Chandler Hill Honey owned by Glenn & Nancy Hellman Hindbaugh, has come to an end by September 2013, from 12 - 20 hives, down to just one hive left.Reporter Morgan Sherburne of The Petoskey News Review wrote an article on 09/11/13 on page 1 describing how the Hindbaughs, and many other bee keepers, are experiencing such bee killers as parasites, mites, fungicides, and pesticides. Nancy and Glenn are grateful they have pollination left for their garden.The 17 June 2014 "Letter to the Editor" of the Petoskey News Review speaks to "the importance of the native pollinators".

Barn ~ Albert HowardOn Magee Road

August 2010

Edward Lick took this above photoof the barn on Magee Road which had once belonged to his Grandpa Albert Howard.The barn previously had a different shaped roof as seen in the three photos below from the 1940s.

About 1945

Standing in front of Albert Howard's barn in about 1945 were Albert's children L>R: Karl "Cub" with son Rodger "Roddy", Beulah [m. Ed Lick], Virgil, and Vernard with son Jack.

Virgil Howard and Vernard Howard about 1945

Vernard Howard held son Jack with Albert's barn and house in the background about 1945

About 1943 ~ Cub and son Rodger Howard next to Cub's father Albert Howard's barn. Albert lived across the road from where Rodger's parents had built a log home.

Photo Above taken on Walton Road: The haystack belonged to Carl & Mable Snyder Clark, along with the piece of farm equipment beside it. The farmhouse and barn in the background belonged to Carl Clark's neighbors John & Bernice Spaniak Howard [son of Noah Howard]

About 1936 ~ Noah Howard held granddaughter JoAnn Howard with Noah's barn in the background

Karla ~ About 1949 with the loose hay piled behind her beside the partially built new barn

When Cub and Marion Howard first bought their farm from the Hughes Family, Cub kept his cattle in the existing flat roofed building in the two photos above left behind him... taken from in front, and behind the flat roofed old barn. The other buildings were used as a granary, and a tractor garage behind the granary, which is not clearly shown in the top photo. On October 11, 1948 Marion Mackie Wood wrote in her diary that "Marion & Cub came after noon, & the baby [Karla]. Cub wanted some of the silo loops for braces over his windows in the barn" so the new barn had begun. The next day, Marion wrote: "Karl got 2 of the hoops yesterday from the silo & there’s 3 left for my septic tank lid. They are 1/2 inch irons (steel, I guess-)." Photos above: Cub and Marion's son Rodger and daughter Karla stood in front of the new barn, still flat roofed as also seen in the photo below right.Notice the loose piled hay in the photo above right.

Cattle and old barn ~ About 1949

Barn walls up ~ About 1949

The two photos below show how the hay mow was created on Cub Howard's barn, by setting the rafters and placing the metal roof.

Putting the rafters on the barn

Putting the rafters on the barn with metal roof started

Marion Mackie Wood, Chandler Township resident, wrote in her diary on 25 November 1951:

"Cub had 23 of the rafters of his barn all made when I talked to M. [Marion] last so he should have’em all done by now. Mr. Korthase is helping him. They are made in a half circle. They stake out the pattern on the ground & then bend inch boards inside it until they are built up with 5 layers- Connie & Bud [Gallop] think they’ll do theirs the same way- takes 32 sets for Cub’s [60 ft.] & 52 for Connie’s [100 ft.]."

Wagon Used For Hauling Hay And Other Items

Probably Early 1950s ~ Hayrake

1950s ~ Submitted by Tom Morse

1976

1955 ~ David Howard on Barn Entryway Leading to the Barnyard Filled With Manure. Another Outbuilding in the Background Close to the Road

Photos Above: Cub & Marion Bush Howard started building this 60 foot long barn about 1948. The haymow often was filled with either loose hay, or baled hay, or sometimes a combination... either way it was good for a child for playing ~ running, jumping, swinging from the mow rope. The center photo clearly shows the electricity pole beside the barn. Cub did eventually have electric milkers to help with milking his many cattle. The little attached side addition housed the milk buckets, milking machines, cream cans, and the cream separator. The cream was taken in the cans to Hausler's Creamery in Boyne Falls MI. In November 1970 Cub and his second wife Betty moved from the farm to a house on Old 27 about 2 1/2 miles north of Vanderbilt. Cub sold the farm to Lynn and Rose Seaton who split off a 40 acre section which sold to Glen & Nancy Hellman Hindbaugh. The Seatons raised and housed dogs in the barn, so had cut several openings on the back side of the barn for the dogs to get in and out on their own. The openings on the side of the barn can be seen in the photo 2 rows below on left. Dave & Eva Penfold Siegrist bought the rest of the farm, 200 acres, from the Seatons. In 2013, and for several previous years, Dave & Eva have run a very successful greenhouse business on the property. They also have horses that are housed in the original barn.

Karl "Cub" Howard and his son Rodger (1950s) stood with Cub's car, his barn, and one of his outbuildings in the background. ~ Photo submitted by Tom Morse.

Marilyn Morse and Rodger Howard stood with the gas barrels, and two of the outbuildings in the background. ~ Photo submitted by Tom Morse, son of Marilyn Morse

16 September 2006 ~ Dog Openings

2006 ~ Siegrist Greenhouse Flowers

12 September 2010 ~ The Siegrist Farm and Greenhouses barely show above the lush acreage of corn, on the day of the Chandler Township Tractor Parade.

2009 ~ Bob and Betty Whittaker, extended Howard Relatives from South Carolina visited the Siegrist Greenhouse with its beautiful plants and buildings, and met Dave and Eva, the owners. Bob and Betty purchased Maple Syrup from the Siegrists.

Jack Alan Howard grew up on the farm of his father Roscoe Howard, passed down from his grandfather Martin Howard. Jack passed away 19 October 2012. Jack had had such loving ties to the Chandler Township Howard Family Farm that the family barn, and tractor, images were engraved on to Jack's tombstone. The back of the tombstone was engraved with the signatures of Jack's grandchildren.

1976

Roscoe and Bertha Howard's children Betty, Garnet, and Ken Howard, Sr. all remembered that their dad did not build the house or the barn on his farm. Roscoe's dad Martin Howard had Barney Howard build the house out of lumber obtained from a torn down school house. Dennis Howard had heard that the school house lumber came from the old Gill School located near Springbrook Golf Course. Perhaps Barney Howard also built the barn?

Harold Howard in front of family home

Harold's brother Roscoe and Bertha Fraley Howard
raised their family in this home

Joel and Barb Prickett added a greenhouse

8 February 2014 ~ Owned by Art and Connie Keyes

Tricia Howard Submitted This Photo

1976 ~ Roscoe and Bertha Howard's farm from Howard Road

1976 ~ Original home of Martin Howard on the corner at the bottom of Chandler Hill

Barn ~ Virgil Howard FarmOn Magee Road

16 September 2006

Barn ~ William "Will" and Florence Hughes Mackie FarmMagee Road ~ Across from the Howard and Marion Mackie Wood FarmWhen this barn was ready to fall down, some of the wood from this barn was used by William Mackie's son to help build the cabin on the Starr Property on Howard Road.

John Howard and Frank Stewart with a big pile of twine in front of them...

1976 Ash (also brother Frank) and Zella Stewart Farm

Although the date of the above left photo is not known, in reference to twine as shown in the photo, in Marion Mackie Wood's June 18, 1951 diary was written: "Carl Clark [neighbor who had visited the day before] says there’s no binder twine in the market for the hay balers.- I expect our bright boys in Washington just gave it all away or something." The Korean War/Conflict was going on at that time if that may have had any effect on the loss of binder twine being on the market???

16 September 2006 ~ Stewart Farm

25 July 2013 ~ Stewart Farm

Remnants ~ Tousley Farm, close to present day site of Calvin and Linda Penfold's Farm

~ Centennial Farms ~

Howard and Marion Mackie Wood raised cattle, hogs, chickens, and pigs. Marion wrote in her diary on 12 February 1949: "An Egg!" our first [this year] - last yer it was the 5th of Feb - year before the 9th! It's a pullet egg - two."

1942 ~ Howard and Marion Mackie Wood Farm... dog Jeff jumping up on Howard with his large barn in the background

Drawing by their grandson Keith Oldham, of Howard and Marion Mackie Wood's barn and farm buildings on Magee Road

The Mackie/Wood/Oldham farm above with displayed sign, is recognized as one of two known Centennial Farmsin Chandler Township Charlevoix County MI.

8 February 2014 ~ Record breaking inches of snow almost hide the Centennial Farm sign from Magee roadway.

~ Farming Choresand Equipment~

Along with farming chores, the harvest of the farmer had to be preserved in some way... the fruits of the farmers' labors. On 9 January 1948 Marion Mackie Wood wrote about her preserving through canning: "Canned the 7 1/2 quarts of young chicken - one broke in the cooker, so 6 qts & 1 pint of gizzards makes me 21 1/2 qts. I wish I had a modern canner - mine is worn out."

7 October 2006

Dave Gaylord installed the irrigation system on property which had belonged to the Fraley Family years ago.

Bill Deneen on the left and John Eastwood on the right, probably on the Eastwood Farm ~ Submitted by Shawn Beeler

Herb Howard Sr., Martin Howard, And Noah Howard Filling A Silo

The photo above was shared by Judy Lick Mann from the 1928 album of her mother Sadie Howard Lick [daughter of Martin Howard] of L>R: Herb Howard [son of Noah], Martin Howard and Noah Howard filling a silo. Martin Howard and his brother Noah Howard each owned a farm in Chandler Township... Noah on top of Chandler Hill, and Martin right at the bottom of Chandler Hill.

Karl "Cub" Howard, second from right in the above left photo, was helping the other Chandler Township farmers at a "Threshing Bee" at the Walton Farm. Usually one person owned a thresher which would travel from farm to farm, and all the neighboring farmers would help out each other. The farm women would usually prepare a huge meal for the hard working threshers.Photo above right also from the collection of Karla Howard Buckmaster: Another threshing image showing L>R: Kenny Howard Sr., Rosco Howard Sr. and Roscoe "Junior" Howard Jr., others not identified.

7 June 1937 ~ The Leader and Kalkaskian newspaper

John Howard, the son of Noah and Annie Sanders Howard, spent his lifetime, working the farm on top of Chandler Hill on Walton Road where John grew up with his parents, and later raised his own family of five children: Jerry, JoAnn, Jack, Patricia "Pat", and Dennis. This picture above left of John standing proudly beside his John Deere tractor probably explains why John's son Dennis collects anything related to the John Deere brand. John Howard still owned a John Deere that he stood near, next to his barn, along with his son Dennis on the right, and his grandchildren John "JJ" Lowery and Jackie Lowery in the photo above right.

Velma Fraley was the daughter of Oscar and Lizzie Sizemore Fraley who lived on Chandler Hill Road. One of the major chores in any Chandler Township farm was to cut, haul, and stack wood which was needed throughout the hard Winters as a heating source, or for cooking food. My dad sometimes used a buzz saw, to make the chore go more quickly, to cut the wood into shorter pieces to fit into the stoves, furnaces, or ranges. Glenn Hindbaugh in 2006 like the photo above right had a similar buzz saw setup to what my dad used. The Chandler Township homes were all rural, without electricity until about 1947 or 1948; so early on, electricity was not an option for heat or cooking. In my folks' home we had a large wood furnace down our "Michigan Basement" with its partially dirt walls and floors. We had to keep the furnace stoked up. The duct work ran under the floors into each room. We also had a wood stove in our living room which we gathered around in the evenings to keep warm. We would even lean back in our chairs, so we could rest our feet on the sides of the stove. Our living room stove had little windows in it made of Mica or Isinglass so the glow of the fire shown from inside the heating stove.Our cooking range also was heated by wood, cut in pieces like in the photo above left. Page 3 in the Sugar Shack newsletter, toward the bottom of this website page, has a photo of the actual yellow colored kitchen range we used on our farm.Later, my folks had two small gas cylinders, kept behind the house, which were connected to a cooking stove we had in our kitchen. It seems like it was a job that someone had, to pick up and deliver the gas cylinders. ~ Karla Howard Buckmaster

Not everyone burned only wood... Marion Mackie Wood wrote in her August 30, 1947 diary about a coal delivery: “Our coal came; 'Kentucky Bear' cost $84.00 6 tons... seems queer to think our coal came the same day it was ordered-never happened before-6 tons (lacking 600 lbs)... it’s in small chunks-washed & looks good." And, on October 9, 1947 Marion wrote: "Howard ordered another ton of coal in Boyne City-West Virginia-they said.” And, the next day Marion wrote: “The 2290 lbs of coal came & cost us $16. 51, but that’s seven tons we have now. Ought to be enough-" And, on October 12, 1949: "A steel & a coal strike are on & have been for some time."November 26, 1949: "This morning-Started snowing like Billy be darned. At 1:20 P.M. Art & Papa went in to frisk around again in Petoskey. I hope they bring us a coal scuttle, a register and any odd thing else....The boys came at 3:30-Howard got a coal scuttle-$1.33-we have needed one 4 years-Art got all the data about the register for the hot air vent upstairs. I will send to M.W. & Co get the one that is 5.49. 12 X 14- Belle gave me 3 dollars toward it- & I shall send right away-" And, February 21, 1950: The coal strike is terrible. That ass of a Truman! He was so sure there was no need to do anything." And, October 24, 1950: "Connie and Bud came in for awhile about 6:30 & Bud had his new one-man saw. Gee it’s wonderful, & awful, too he paid $316.00 for it & can carry it around in his hands." October 26, 1950: "Bud came with his little saw- and inquired by asking formally if I’d like a demonstration of his saw, & I told him also formally that I would & he cut 3 little saplings in the ‘twink’ of an eye." Then, October 29, 1950: "I am cutting sticks off the slim trees Bud sawed down- They make a pleasant heat & the walls don’t get so smoky. They also keep the chimney much clearer of smoke." October 30, 1950: "I cut up the rest of the elm poles Bud cut down with his chain saw & I now must saw up the apple tree. I have a few other trees I want cut, maybe I can get Cub to bring his...It was so nice we went down in the grove and looked over the basswood trees- Some nice logs down there."

18 August 2006

Fred and Virginia "Tootie" Smith Hoatlin attended the 2006 Howard Family Reunion at the Chandler Township Hall. They stood by their old Farmall tractor which Dennis Howard had restored. Dennis had driven the tractor to mow a part of an adjacent field for additional parking for the reunion.

About 1943

Photo Above: Rodger "Roddy" Howard helped his dad Cub chop out tree stumps using his own hatchet. This may have been on Cub's first land across from his father Albert Howard's farm on Magee Road, or it may have been on Cub's farm on Chandler Hill Road.

About 1948/49

Photo Above: My brother Rodger and I were helping my dad Karl "Cub" Howard on our 240 acre Chandler Hill Farm. I remember doing this... and I think we were marking straight lines (for planting in rows) with chains that were hanging from the long branch.~ Karla Howard Buckmaster

My folks used to send me out with a crowbar to pull nails from the old debris of a barn that had once stood between the house and the newer barn, and I would be out there ALL day because I remember enjoying doing it. BUT, what were they thinking about me working/playing around rusty nails which could cause tetanus? This may have been around the time that our house had burned. Our old pickup, and the garage that stood out by the road near the driveway were still in the background.~ Karla Howard Buckmaster

About 1947/48/49

About 1947/48/49

About 1947 ~ Karla and her dad Cub Howard sitting on their bales of hay

About 1947 ~ Karla in her favorite coonskin cap with garage in background

About 1947 ~ Karla Howard standing on Bud Gallop's hay baler in her own yard... most farmers, like Karl "Cub" Howard, did not have their own baler. Bud Gallop traveled around to the different farms, and baled hay for a price, as part of his farming income. Bud Gallop's baler was parked at Cub Howard's farm.

Wiley Latshaw born 8 February 1886 in Sullivan County Indiana was living in 1900 in Haddon Township Sullivan County Indiana with his father William Decatur Latshaw and stepmother Henrietta, and siblings Ola (1888-1912), Walter (1889-1960), Charles Raymond (1891-1961), and Gilbert Roy (1894-1964). Wiley's mother's name was Leona May Lisman. In 1910 Wiley was living on his own, single, next door in Indiana to his brother Walter who had their sister Faye O. [Olla Faye], and brother Gilbert R. living with Walter. Wiley was already listed as a beekeeper on a bee farm in 1910. On the 1930 census record Wiley, single and living on his own, was enumerated as living in Grand Bay & Union Church Precinct 15 of Mobile Alabama with his occupation listed as a beekeeper, althoughthe 1930 Chandler Township plat map has 40 acres in Section 17 listed as Latshaw.Section 17 in the early 1900's was the section that the Cobbs & Mitchell Camp 23 lumber camp had been located.In 1918 when Wiley registered for WWI Draft he was living in Charlevoix County with a Clarion address and listed as a beekeeper then as well. Chandler Township had a Clarion mailing address. Wiley Latshaw was also living on Howard Road Chandler Township raising his bees in the 1960s because Wiley then asked my husband Sheldon Buckmaster to help Wiley to pack some of his honey to ship to England. Obviously, Wiley Latshaw's honey was internationally appreciated. As I remember, a nephew of Wiley's came to Chandler Township and took him back to his home state of Indiana where Wiley passed away 7 January 1976 and was buried there in the Shepherd Cemetery in Knox County IN. ~ Karla Howard Buckmaster

Wiley Latshaw WWI Draft Registration Card

The Petoskey Record 1913 news item below maybe helps to explain why Wiley Latshaw who was born in Indiana enjoyed having a motorcycle, as seen in the photo below left also showing Wiley's beehives.

Rodger Howard remembers when he was a young guy, that he and a friend had heard that Wiley Latshaw had a motorcycle, and they wanted to see it. So, they approached Wiley and asked if they could see his motorcycle. Wiley said, "Sure, but it will take me a few minutes". Wiley at that time had all of the buildings (many from the previous Cobbs & Mitchell Camp 23 lumber camp) that can be seen in the photo aboveleft, and then took the guys into one of the bigger buildings. Wiley proceeded to go over into a corner that had empty tin cans thrown haphazardly in an eight foot high pile. The guys stood back as Wiley started flinging the empty cans into another pile behind him. After a while of Wiley tossing cans, the guys could see the handle bars of the motorcycle, but soon the guys began to tire of this seemingly endless task, and told Wiley they would see his motorcycle another time. The guys left and Wiley started flinging the cans back over the motorcycle to keep it safe from the view of its whereabouts for possible thieves.

The year is not stated for the Popular Mechanics magazine in the two photos below. This same magazine did, however, include an advertisement placed by Wiley Latshaw to sell a 2 H.P. bicycle engine... like new. Wiley was living in Carlisle IN at the time of the advertisement.

Popular Mechanics Magazine Cover

Popular Mechanics Magazine Included Wiley Latshaw's Advertisement

Honey producing jumped in numbers from the 1900 census until the 191o census as the article/photo below indicated.

The first two summers that Sheldon and I owned our 1968 Pontiac Tempest, shown in the photo above, we were attending college in Mt. Pleasant MI at Central Michigan University. We lived that summer at our family's cabin on Howard Road Chandler Township while Sheldon bar tended at the Petoskey Bay View Country Club. Our cabin was directly across the road from Wiley Latshaw's property. The old buildings in the background of this photo above belonged to Wiley, and that is the condition that I mostly remember Wiley's buildings. ~ Karla Howard Buckmaster

1976 ~ One of Wiley's fallen buildings

21 September 1968 ~ Petoskey News Review

21 September 1968 ~ Petoskey News Review

Click on various icons in the lower right corner of the document below to see an enlarged version. The 1 June 1910 article below on page 2 of The Petoskey Record told of "The Busy Bee And His Product".

This book reporting about the various soils of Charlevoix County MI, with references to Chandler Township, was compiled by the State of Michigan Department of Conservation ~ Land Economic Survey Division.